Waking up to view the sunrise over the Mediterranean Sea should not be difficult. On an island like Marettimo, which is famous for its brilliant start/end-of-day displays, one should literally be hopping out of bed. This author, however, was unable to rouse himself during a recent visit. What could have kept him in bed? Normally he would have jumped to experience the sunrise at far less spectacular locales. Had he no sense of urgency or feeling of obligation toward his editor? He would argue that he was diligently researching his story into the wee hours of the night and needed rest to continue his work the following morning. But is this credible? What could possibly have distracted him on this remote, under-populated island?

The author maintains that the unexpected discovery of spirited life and activity kept him from completing some of his pre-assigned outdoor exploration. He had been told not to expect much from the local people, that the island was more or less "dead" off-season. Yet, in the end, he felt quite at home among Marettimo's sympathetic population. The islanders befriended him, invited them to their parties, and overall made his visit infinitely more enjoyable than if he had hiked from sunrise to sunset, all alone on this beautiful isle.